U.S. scores against Mexico in landing Jose Francisco Torres
SOCCER
Mexican American Torres plays professionally in Mexico but wasn't tapped for its national team. The U.S. grabbed him. He could see action in a World Cup qualifier against Trinidad and Tobago today.
In the end, it could have come down to a coin flip.
Heads, and Jose Francisco Torres would put on the green jersey and play for Mexico, the land of his father, Francisco.
Tails, and Torres, who turns 21 later this month, would wear the red, white and blue of the U.S., the land of his mother, Lisa.
But no coin was spun into the air. Instead, Torres, who was born in Longview, Texas, but has played soccer professionally for Pachuca in Mexico's first division since he was 16, opted for the U.S. national soccer team.
That's because U.S. Coach Bob Bradley was smarter and quicker on the draw than Mexico Coach Sven-Goran Eriksson.
Last Saturday, at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C., Torres made his national team debut, coming on as a substitute for the final 22 minutes of the Americans' 6-1 rout of Cuba in a World Cup qualifying game.
Today, in Port of Spain, Trinidad, the U.S. plays another World Cup qualifier, against Trinidad and Tobago, and Torres very likely again will get some playing time. He might even start.
The reason was on plain view at RFK. Torres was instantly at ease when he came into the game against Cuba. He was comfortable on the ball, stroking passes around to teammates whose names he barely knew. He was also confident, and it showed in one blistering shot that he fired inches over the crossbar.
Afterward, both player and coach pronounced themselves satisfied.
"The first ball, I was a little nervous. Once I got hold of it, and started passing and started shooting, I was comfortable," Torres said. "I have come to a good national team and I am happy that we could get a win today."
Said Bradley: "We were very excited that he chose to play for the U.S. It was a decision for him that I don't think was easy. From the day he got here, he seemed very excited and comfortable with the guys. Any time you bring in a new player, they do a good job of making them feel part of the group."
It could easily have gone the other way.
Earlier this year, the U.S. wanted Torres on its roster for the Beijing Olympics, just as it did with another Mexican American player, 22-year-old defender Michael Orozco of Orange.
But Torres declined the invitation. At the time, he was concentrating on securing his first-team place with Pachuca and still wondering whether Mexico's national team would call him up.
